Matthew 13:14

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

And {G2532} in {G1909} them {G846} is fulfilled {G378} the prophecy {G4394} of Esaias {G2268}, which {G3588} saith {G3004}, By hearing {G189} ye shall hear {G191}, and {G2532} shall {G4920} not {G3364} understand {G4920}; and {G2532} seeing {G991} ye shall see {G991}, and {G2532} shall {G1492} not {G3364} perceive {G1492}:

That is, in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Yesha`yahu which says, `You will keep on hearing but never understand, and keep on seeing but never perceive,

In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: โ€˜You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:

Commentary

Matthew 13:14 presents Jesus' explanation for His use of parables, quoting the Old Testament prophet Esaias (Isaiah) to describe the spiritual condition of many who heard His message. This verse underscores a profound truth about spiritual understanding and revelation: not all who hear and see will truly perceive.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' extensive teaching on the Kingdom of Heaven, delivered through a series of parables in Matthew chapter 13. Following the Parable of the Sower, the disciples ask Jesus why He speaks to the crowds in parables (Matthew 13:10). Verses 11-17 contain Jesus' answer, explaining that parables serve to reveal truth to those given to understand, while concealing it from those whose hearts are hardened. Verse 14 specifically cites an ancient prophecy to justify this divine method of teaching.

Historical and Cultural Context

The prophecy cited by Jesus is from Isaiah 6:9-10, where God commissions Isaiah to speak to a people who would hear but not understand, and see but not perceive, leading to a hardening of their hearts. This was the spiritual state of much of Israel in Isaiah's day, and tragically, it was the same for many during Jesus' ministry. Despite witnessing His miracles and hearing His teachings, many of the Jewish people, especially the religious leaders, rejected Jesus as the Messiah, expecting a political deliverer rather than a spiritual King. Jesus' quotation of Isaiah highlights that their unbelief was not unforeseen, but a continuation of a pattern of spiritual blindness predicted centuries earlier.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Spiritual Blindness and Unbelief: The core message is that physical hearing and seeing do not guarantee spiritual understanding. Many in Jesus' audience were spiritually unreceptive, their hearts closed to the truth of His identity and message.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: Jesus' ministry and the responses to it are presented as a direct fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. This emphasizes the divine plan and sovereignty at work in history.
  • The Purpose of Parables: For those with hardened hearts, parables served to obscure truth, preventing further judgment for their willful rejection. For those with receptive hearts, they revealed deeper spiritual truths, providing insight into the Kingdom of God.
  • Divine Judgment and Human Responsibility: While the prophecy describes a foreseen outcome of spiritual dullness, it does not negate human responsibility. The people chose to harden their hearts, leading to this state of not perceiving.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive" uses a Hebrew idiom known as the infinitive absolute. In Greek, it translates as akoฤ“ akousete (hearing you shall hear) and blepontes blepsete (seeing you shall see). This construction emphasizes the certainty and intensity of the action, yet paradoxically, the lack of its intended outcome. They would indeed hear and see, but without any meaningful comprehension or spiritual insight. The word "perceive" (Greek: idein) implies not just physical sight, but understanding, grasping the significance of what is seen.

Practical Application

Matthew 13:14 serves as a powerful reminder for believers today. It challenges us to examine the condition of our own hearts when we encounter God's Word. Are we merely hearing and seeing, or are we truly understanding and perceiving? The verse calls for a humble and receptive spirit, eager to grasp spiritual truths. Without such a heart, even the clearest revelation can remain obscure. It also highlights the importance of prayer for spiritual discernment, that we might have "ears to hear" what the Spirit is saying, as Jesus often concluded His parables (e.g., Matthew 13:9).

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 6:9

    ยถ And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

  • Isaiah 6:10

    Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

  • Ezekiel 12:2

    Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they [are] a rebellious house.

  • Luke 8:10

    And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:14

    But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ.

  • Acts 28:25

    And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

  • Acts 28:27

    For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
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